10th anniversary

FES NEWSLETTER

EDITOR‘S NOTE The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in Cyprus cele- brates its 10th anniversary. To mark the oc- casion the FES newsletter has a new design and we hope you share our excitement over the new look. We hope that the pandemic will allow for an appropriate celebration later this year. In the meantime, we wish you good health and hope you enjoy our “new” newsletter.

Newsletter No. 108 MAY 21

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CONTENT

EVENTS, PODCASTS, PUBLICATIONS 3

CYPRUS PROBLEM 4

HYDROCARBONS 5

GREEK CYPRIOTS 5 Economic Developments Domestic Developments Labour Relations and Trade Unions

TURKISH CYPRIOTS 9 Economic Developments Relations with Turkey Domestic Developments Labour Relations and Trade Unions

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PODCASTS in JUNE: PODCASTS in JULY: Holly McCamant and Hrishabh Sandilya (Project No podcasts in July Phoenix) joined by Zivka Deleva (Director of an Asylum and Reception Centre in Berlin), Elizabeth Kassinis (Caritas) and Qais Hatefi (Afghani refugee and university student in Germany) Migration 2.0 Podcast - Episode 4: Refugee and Migrant Integration in Cyprus and Germany - Com- parisons and Lessons (In English)

PUBLICATIONS in JUNE: PUBLICATIONS in JULY: Kyriaki Chatzipanagiotou, Samuel Akoni, Hrishabh No publications in July Sandilya and Sarah Morsheimer A Systemic Analysis of the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Refugees, Migrants, and Asylum See- kers in Cyprus: Part II – The Survey (In English)

Hubert Faustmann, Gianna Chatzigeorgiou, Sertac Sonan Trade Union Monitor Cyprus 2021 (In English, German)

EVENTS in JUNE: EVENTS in JULY: No events planned No events planned so far

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CYPRUS PROBLEM Home for Cooperation (H4C), which is located in In May, Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders, Nicos the UN-controlled buffer zone in , marked its Anastasiades and , shared letters with the 10th anniversary on May 6. In a written statement, UN Secretary-General (“UNSG”), Antonio Guterres, the H4C said: ‘A decade was filled with innumerable briefing him on developments of the Cyprus prob- friendships and memories… dedicated to challeng- lem and their approaches. The letters followed the ing all physical and mental barriers between the two sides’ failure to reach common ground and re- communities of Cyprus supporting a vast number of start negotiations in the informal five-party summit, artists, academics, students, NGOs and initiatives.’ held in Geneva at the end of April. Established in 2011 as an educational and research In his letter to Guterres, Anastasiades stressed centre by the Association for Historical Dialogue that Turkey’s positions are unacceptable and do not and Research (AHDR), the H4C was transformed contribute to creating a common ground for the re- into an intercommunal community centre, with its sumption of the Cyprus talks. He reiterated his po- multicommunal team. The mission statement ‘Home litical will and determination to participate in a new is a hub,’ emphasizes that the H4C welcomes all com- informal conference that will be compatible with munities of the island. the UN decisions and resolutions and the terms of On May 19, the European Parliament’s (EP) 2019- the Good Offices mandate of the UNSG. In addition 2020 Report on Turkey was adopted by the plena- to Guterres, Anastasiades sent his letter to the UN ry. The report called for the formal suspension of Security Council`s permanent and non-permanent accession negotiations with Turkey, which prompt- members, EU institutions as well as EU heads of ed a strong reaction by Ankara, rejecting it as “a bi- state. A separate letter was also sent to US Presi- ased text with false allegations”. The EP expressed dent, Joe Biden, who thanked him for his warm ap- serious concern that in recent years, despite being proach on the Cyprus problem. a candidate country, Turkey’s government has pur- Tatar sent his letter to Guterres laying out the Turk- sued a continuous and growing distancing from EU ish Cypriot’s position to the Cyprus issue and how he values and standards. The EP also referred to Tur- sees the way forward, which involved a ‘bottom-up’ key’s unilateral actions in the eastern Mediterrane- concept with two sovereign states existing side by an and expressed concerns as regards a confronta- side. Tatar said he would publicize the letter, which tional and hostile foreign policy, towards the EU and he also sent to certain heads of EU states. its member states, especially and Cyprus. According to Turkish Cypriot newspaper, Kibris On May 25, Anastasiades held a meeting with EU Postasi, the next informal meeting on the Cyprus High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Securi- problem is expected to take place in September or ty Policy, Josep Borrell, on the sidelines of his visit to October 2021. The newspaper reported that the Brussels where he was attending a special meeting Greek Cypriot side was aiming for the meeting to of the European Council. The President stated that take place before July 20, which will reportedly be Cyprus’ positive stance at the upcoming European difficult to arrange, as preparations will not be com- Council (EUCO) in June that will discuss EU-Turkey pleted by that time. The UNSG’s special represent- relations will depend on various factors including ative, Jane Holl Lute, is expected to return to the Ankara’s behaviour on the Cyprus issue and Varos- island for consultations with the Greek and Turkish ha; refraining from provocative actions at sea and on Cypriot leaders in June. Lute visited Greece and Tur- land; and whether Ankara will fulfil its contractual key in the last week of May. obligations to the EU and all its member states. Assessing the Greek Cypriot parliamentary election

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FES CYPRUS NEWSLETTER results, Tatar stated that the rise of far-right, ELAM public. The reopening of the crossing points was de- justifies the Turkish side’s position for a two-state layed as they were expected to reopen on May 31, solution. Tatar argued that nationalist extremism as announced by TRNC1 prime minister . was on the rise in the south, while left wing AKEL, which supports a federal solution, has retreated. The Cyprus issue and the outcome of the informal HYDROCARBONS Geneva meeting were part of the agenda during a There were no significant developments in May. meeting between Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu and his Greek counterpart, Nikos Dendi- as, in Athens on May 31. On May 24, the Turkish Cypriot shopkeepers who run businesses around the Ledra Street/Lokma- Economic Developments ci crossing point marched to the check point and On May 11, Moody’s Investors Service warned that called the leaders of the two communities to open the loans on the books of EU banks that remain un- the crossing points immediately. The protest was der long-running moratoria are more likely to under- organised by the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Shop- perform, with credit quality particularly uncertain in keepers and Artisans (KTEZO). Elsewhere, speaking Cyprus, Italy, Portugal and Hungary. The Moody’s to the Turkish Cypriot daily Yeniduzen, the KTEZO report comes on the back of similar warnings from president Mahmut Kanber said that unemployment the Central Bank of Cyprus, whose governor last was on the rise and the number of businesses that month spoke of an impending increase in non-per- shut down has been growing by the day. Kanber add- forming loans. The moratoria apply to primary resi- ed: ‘Until the pandemic, the two communities creat- dences of up to €350k and small business property ed an island economy … Most of the hot money cir- for businesses with turnover up to €2bn. culating in the north came from the south. We have On May 12, the main findings of the European Com- always advocated the opening of more crossings and mission’s spring economic forecast for Cyprus were more trade, and we still do … People in the south presented in Brussels. According to the report, the are better off … the value of their currency is also tourism sector has been severely affected, while the much higher than ours. The crossing points need to impact on domestic demand and the labour market be opened immediately so that they will be able to has been cushioned by temporary income support benefit from cheaper prices, and we from higher de- measures. Gradual recovery in economic activi- mand’. ty is forecast for 2021 and 2022, driven mainly by For the first time since February 2020, crossing domestic demand. Public finances worsened signif- points are expected to reopen on June 4 under the icantly in 2020, due to the crisis but are set to im- following conditions: Level 1 (green) no restrictions, prove in 2021 and 2022. According to the European level 2 (orange) seven day negative rapid or PCR test Commission, the Cypriot economy shrank by 5.1% and, finally, level 3 (dark red) closed to the general in 2020. It is forecast to grow by 3.1% and 3.8% in

1The Turkish Republic of (TRNC) is only recognised as the government of the whole of the island, recognised by the Republic of Turkey. While for Turkey the entire island is now considered to be a member of the and the , Ersin Tatar serves as President European Union. However, the acquis communautaire is of the TRNC, the international community considers him suspended in northern Cyprus pending a political settle- the communal leader of the Turkish Cypriots. As the gov- ment to the Cyprus problem (see Protocol no. 10 of the ernment of the Republic of Cyprus remains internationally Accession Treaty).

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2021 and 2022. Unemployment was 7.6% in 2020 and the bank continues to operate with a significant and is seen at 7.5% in 2021 and 7.2% in 2022. liquidity surplus of almost €5bn, with the Liquidity On May 17, President Anastasiades unveiled the Coverage Ratio (DPR) amounting to 284%. government’s recovery and resilience plan dubbed, On May 25, the European Commission announced “Cyprus Tomorrow”. The scheme which aims at through a press release that it has loaned Cyprus strengthening the resilience of the economy through €124m under the Support to Mitigate Unemploy- a series of actions, investments and reforms will be ment Risks in an Emergency (SURE) Program. The funded through €1.2bn from the EU’s Recovery and funds are intended for emergency support of busi- Resilience Facility, €1.8bn from the Policy Coher- nesses and employment. The SURE funds are the ence Fund, and €1.4bn from private investment or result of bonds issued by the EU Commission on the private-public partnerships. In return for the funds, international credit market, the first time the EU EU members must roll out broad reforms that will Commission has ever issued debt. Member States change current growth models. The plan is organ- will have to repay these loans over time, thereby fi- ised in five Pillars: Public healthcare, quick transition nancing the repayment to creditors. to Green Economy, improvement of economic resil- Cyprus’ battered tourism industry is anxiously ience and competitiveness; moving towards a digital awaiting a positive announcement from the British age; employment, education and human resources. government’s updated country travel list, as some Some examples of funding included: hotels have yet to reopen. Hoteliers are concerned that the summer of 2021 could be another lost sea- €40m will go to small and medium sized enterprises, son, despite government support schemes. The new councils and communities; travel list will come into force on June 7. Deputy €20.5m for energy efficiency for homes and renew- Minister for Tourism, Savvas Perdios was expected ables; to travel to London and Moscow in early June in an €78.4m for improvement business competitiveness; attempt to push for tourist arrivals from Cyprus’ two €96m for improvement of justice system, fighting biggest markets. Perdios will head a delegation that corruption, and local government; will visit these two capitals for contacts. €44.5m for the management of crises at financial in- stitutions; Domestic Developments €94m for education and improvement of profes- In May the COVID-19 cases increased from 65,909 sional skills; to 72,457. The number of deaths attributed to the €78.9m for job market integration and employment; virus increased from 312 to 360. The improvement of the country’s epidemiological picture, with the Through a statement dated May 25, Bank of Cyprus drop in daily coronavirus cases to double digits, al- announced first quarter revenue of €136m, and op- lowed the health ministry to announce the relaxa- erating profit of €45m. Profit after tax was €8m but tion of certain restrictions including the ending of organic profit (from the operations of the bank) af- the SMS system, the extension of the evening curfew ter tax, amounted to €14m. This is up from a loss of to midnight and the implementation of a SafePass €49m after tax in the last quarter of 2020. The bank system, allowing access to indoor venues by people continues to make progress in improving the quali- who were negatively tested for the virus in the last ty of the NPL portfolio. In total, from their highest 72 hours. Further relaxations were expected to take level in 2014, the bank has reduced NPLs by €13.3 place from June 1st. The vaccination program is pro- bn or 89%, to €1.7bn. Liquidity also remains strong gressing well with more than 234k people been fully

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FES CYPRUS NEWSLETTER vaccinated, which translates to 26% of the Greek dros Kyprianou, said his party was saddened by the Cypriot population. Almost 50% of the Greek Cypri- results and its collective bodies would reflect on this ot population have been vaccinated at least with the outcome. The party’s political bureau was expected first dose. to convene in early June and his resignation was a On May 30, Greek Cypriots went to the polls to possible outcome. elect the new House of Representatives. The chang- The MPs are: ing political landscape, abstention and the losses of mainstream parties, stand out as the big takeaways DISY 17 (27.8%) from the elections. Ruling DISY retained is position Nicosia: Averof Neophytou, Demetris Demetriou, as the largest party in the House, although it saw Nicos Tornaritis, Haris Georgiades, Savia Orpha- its number of seats reduced, as did the other large nidou party, opposition and left wing AKEL. In particular, : Efthymios Diplaros, Fotini Tsiridou, Nikos DISY, AKEL and center right DIKO, together lost Sykas approximately 35k votes, whereas socialists EDEK Famagusta: Kyriakos Hadjiyiannis, Giorgos Karoul- made slight gains. Far right ELAM achieved big gains, las, Onoufrios Koulla, Nikos Georgiou almost doubling their support base since 2016, also Larnaca: Annita Demetriou, Prodromos Alambritis translating into a doubling of their seats. Marios Pafos: Charalammbos Pazaros Garoyian’s newly established DIPA, which split out Kyrenia: Marios Mavrides, Rita Theodorou Super- from DIKO, was also considered among the big win- man ners. The results will see seven parties in the new par- AKEL 15 (22.3%) liament, compared to eight previously. Ruling DISY Nicosia: Andros Kyprianou, Irini Charalambidou, garnered 27.77% of the vote (-2.9%); AKEL 22.34% Stefanos Stefanou, Aristos Damianou, Giorgos (-3.3%); DIKO 11.29% (-3.2%); ELAM 6.78% (+3%); Loukaides, Christos Christofides EDEK 6.72% (+0.5%); DIPA 6.10% (first House elec- Limassol: Costas Costa, Andreas Kafkalias, Marina tion) and Greens 4.41% (-0.4%). Solidarity and the Nicolaou Citizens Alliance were unable to secure the 3.6% Famagusta: Nicos Kettyros, Giorgos Koukoumas, threshold required to gain seats in the House. Giannakis Gavriel As far as the breakdown of seats goes: DISY got 17 Larnaca: Andreas Pashiourtides (one less than 2016); AKEL 15 (one less than 2016); Pafos: Andreas Fakontis DIKO nine (no change); the Greens went from two to Kyrenia: Christos Christofias three; EDEK from three to four; new entrants DIPA got four seats; and ELAM four seats from two. DIKO 9 (11.3%) The abstention rate of 34.2% was high (to 33.2% in Nicosia: Nicolas Papadopoulos, Christiana Erotocri- 2016). Only eight women gained one of the 56 seats tou, Chrysis Pantelides in parliament, translating to a female representation Limassol: Pavlos Milonas, Panicos Leonidou of 14%, down from 17% in 2016. The house presi- Famagusta: Christos Senekis, Zacharias Koulias dent is expected to be elected once the new parlia- Larnaca: Christos Orfanides ment convenes for the first time, on June 10. Pafos: Chrysanthos Savvides Head of DISY, Averof Neophytou, applauded his par- ty’s success in remaining the leading political force of the country despite the losses. AKEL leader, An-

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ELAM 4 (6.8%) Labour Relations and Trade Union Nicosia: Christos Christou On May 6, all garbage collection crew employees of Limassol: Andreas Themistocleous the Kokkinochoria region went on a spontaneous Famagusta: Linos Papayiannis strike to express their strong protest against the Larnaca: Sotiris Ioannou refusal of the Regional Council to implement their Collective Agreement. Some of the problems voiced EDEK 4 (6.72%) concerned: Nicosia: Constantinos Efstathiou Limassol: Marinos Sizopoulos - adjusting the workload which suffers from serious Larnaca: Andreas Apostolou problems stemming from the accumulated number Pafos: Elias Myrianthous of overtime hours, - the issue of working hours and the lack of a weekly DIPA 4 (6.10%) work schedule, Nicosia: Alecos Tryfonides, Marinos Moushiouttas the refusal to compensate “stand by” shifts to em- Limassol: ployees, Famagusta: Michalis Yiacoumi - the long delay in starting the dialogue on the re- newal of the collective agreement. Greens 3 (4.41%) Nicosia: Charalambos Theopemptou, Alexandra At- It is worth noting that employees demanded solu- talidou tions to the above issues for the last two years with- Limassol: Stavros Papadouris out any significant results. At the same time, the em- ployees expressed their support and solidarity with On May 27, Nicos Rolandis passed away at the age of the workers of the Municipality of Sotira who were 86. Rolandis served as Foreign Minister from 1978 not included in the regular staff of the Municipal to 1983, when he resigned his post over a dispute Council of Sotira. This is contradicting the Collective with then President ’s hard-line Agreement on the one hand, and clear decisions on stance on the Cyprus problem. He also served as an the issue by the Department of Labor Relations of MP from 1991 through to 1996, later merging his the Ministry of Labor, the Joint Committee of the Liberal Party with DISY in 1998. In the 1998 elec- Union of Municipalities and the Ministry of Interi- tion, Rolandis launched his own campaign to become or. According to these decisions and guidelines, the president but later supported the eventual winner workers in the Municipality of Sotira should become , who in turn appointed Rolandis as regular employees. commerce minister, a position he fulfilled until 2003. On May 11, the teachers working in the afternoon/ He oversaw and pioneered significant policy initia- evening educational programs of the Ministry of Ed- tives such as the oil and gas exploration in the seas ucation, Culture, Sports and Youth went on an indef- surrounding Cyprus. In 2003, he signed an agree- inite strike, over the Ministry’s decision to change ment in Cairo establishing the Exclusive Economic their employment status into service providers, as Zone (EEZ) of Cyprus and Egypt, the first EEZ agree- opposed to employees. The strike began in all cities ment signed in the Mediterranean. simultaneously. The teachers had shared an ultima- tum with the Ministry an ultimatum, according to which, the issue should have been resolved by the

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FES CYPRUS NEWSLETTER end of March. After the deadline expired, they went out continuous unilateral actions against employees. on a strike, demanding the abolition of their new em- An example is the dismissal of employees without ployment status. sufficient explanations and prior warnings with their In a resolution to the President of the Republic, they representatives as well as violations of the Collec- ask the government: tive Agreements. Trade Unions warn the manage- ment that there will be immediate reactions if these - to cancel the new employment regime in the edu- issues are not addressed swiftly. cational programs that employ thousands of teach- ers, as it also deprives them of the right to unem- ployment benefit during the period when they are TURKISH CYPRIOTS not employed. - to create a flexible way for employing regular em- Economic Developments ployees, which will also give the employer the oppor- According to the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Com- tunity to hire according to the justified needs that merce’s (KTTO) quarterly bulletin, which covers the exist from time to time in the various programs. period from January to March 2021, the 12-month inflation rate which was 15,03% by the end of 2020, The protests continued throughout the month dropped slightly to 13,97% in the first quarter of where they escalated with nationwide mobilizations. 2021. The KTTO chairperson Turgay Deniz, who On May 19, a meeting of the trade unions represent- shared the findings presented in the bulletin with ing the employees of OKYPY (Cypriot Organization the public, said that because of the sharp deval- of Health Services) was held according to their joint uation of the Turkish lira, the inflation rate in the announcement, the organizations do not intend to second quarter was likely to be higher. Deniz also allow public health to be transformed into a com- said ‘due to losses in tourism and higher education modity and to protect the role and mission of Public sectors’, the TRNC economy is predicted to shrink Hospitals as the main pillar of support of the Health 11,04% in 2020 (which is the estimation of the State System. The purpose of the meeting was to assess Planning Organization). the state of labor relations in the services of OKYPY, According to the Standard Kibris economy portal, to formulate a joint strategy regarding regulatory is- the Ministry of Finance, (via two separate tenders sues and to coordinate action between the different organized by the TRNC Central Bank) borrowed trade union organizations in a spirit of unity and sol- 202,96 million (€ 20,2 million) TL in May from the idarity to ensure quality employment in the Organ- domestic market (for the 10th time during the COV- ization. The meeting unanimously concluded that ID-19 outbreak). The amount of domestic debt taken only regulated employment under the provisions of by the Ministry of Finance in the period of February agreed collective agreements is acceptable. 2020-May 2021 reached approximately 645 million A letter to the company Nicosia Public Transport TL. The domestic debt stock rose from 40 million TL Services and Operations Ltd was sent on May 24 by in the end of February 2020 to 356 million TL (€35,5 SEK and PEO. They bring to the management’s at- million) by the end of May 2021. tention that one year will soon pass from the day the company undertook Public Passenger Transport in Relations with Turkey the Province of Nicosia and that despite their efforts On May 19, the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Er- the employees’ problems are constantly increasing. dogan said he will be in the TRNC to attend the cer- According to the letter, the employer’s side carries emonies to mark the July 20 military intervention.

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He said he will give ‘a strong message to the entire The Secretary General of the National Unity Party world’ during his visit, adding that ‘Ankara’s determi- (UBP) Oguzhan Hasipoglu said that a by-election to nation will be seen by all.’ The Turkish president had fill the seat vacated by Ersin Tatar would not be held pointed out that there are two airports in the north: this year, and that the general election would be held ‘The first one is the Ercan (Tymbou) airport, which is in April 2022 and not in October 2021 as originally known by all. The second one had been there, but we envisaged in the coalition protocol. are upgrading it and will have a new name soon. This According to a survey carried out by the Metron airport is the one that accommodates our armed and polling company majority of people find Turkish non-armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs),’ Erdo- Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar ‘unsuccessful’. Metron gan said. He also noted that Turkey has stationed its asked the participants how they would rate Tatar’s UAVs in the north to be prepared for any possible at- performance in office: While 53% responded ’unsuc- tacks in the region. cessful’, 21% said they find him ‘successful,’ 13.5% The Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay held a series said he was neither successful nor unsuccessful, and of contacts in the TRNC over the weekend of May 12.5% refrained from expressing an opinion on the 22-23. In addition to inaugurating an irrigation tun- question. The survey was carried out via telephone nel, Oktay attended a gathering of TRNC-Turkish with a representative sample of 650 respondents youth in Famagusta. The event was also attended by between May 14 and 16. President Ersin Tatar and Prime Minister Ersan San- The main opposition (CTP) er too. did not attend the special session of parliament Tatar and Saner received the heads of Turkey’s Jus- where Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar briefed tice and Development Party (AKP) Youth Branches deputies on the Geneva talks. In a statement, the from 81 provinces who were in the TRNC to attend CTP said that the briefing would only be for show: a youth gathering. ‘The debriefing meeting on the Geneva talks is The Turkey-TRNC Inter-parliamentary Friendship meaningless as Tatar went ahead with his policies Group delegation visited the TRNC. without consulting anyone.’ The Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources The head of the Higher Committee for Infectious Nazım Cavusoglu visited Ankara to meet Fuat Ok- Diseases, and Health Ministry Undersecretary tay and Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Duriye Deren Oygar said that 22% of the TRNC’s Bekir Pakdemirli. population has been vaccinated: 127,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered so far; Domestic Developments 75,000 people had received both doses while 52,000 It turned out that a majority of the members of the people had received the first jab. Meanwhile, in May, Turkish Cypriot delegation which tabled a two-state 6,000 AstraZeneca vaccines were delivered to the solution in Geneva (as well as nine members of the TRNC, as part of the EU jabs reserved for Turkish eleven members of the cabinet including Prime Min- Cypriots. The latest delivery brought the total num- ister Ersan Saner and Minister of Foreign Affairs ber of vaccines sent by the EU to 30,050. Tahsin Ertugruloglu) were also Republic of Cyprus (RoC) citizens. Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar Labour Relations and Trade Unions said he would return his RoC ID and passport if he Since early April, an indefinite strike by public could after it emerged that he was a registered citi- healthcare employeesover pay and working condi- zen of the RoC too. ‘If there is a way, I will return it,’ tions ended on May 6. The Minister of Health said Tatar told Kibris Postasi TV. that doctors who have been working on a contractu-

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FES CYPRUS NEWSLETTER al basis since 2017 will be transferred to permanent staff status and the overtime payments due to them would be made in the coming days. The Tip-Is (Cy- prus Turkish Doctors Union) leader Dr Ahmet Varis said that job security is the most basic requirement of doctors that have been waiting for a solution to the problems for many years. The strike action had affected non-urgent only procedures. An indefinite strike called by the Cyprus- Turk ish Electricity Authority Workers Union (El-Sen) launched on May 10 was brought to an end two days later following an agreement struck between the Electricity Authority (Kib-Tek) and the trade union. El-Sen members who held a protest outside the Kib- Tek headquarters in Nicosia on May 12 tried to en- ter the building but were stopped by the police. The demonstrators held placards and banners reading ‘No to privatisation’, ‘We will win by resisting, not by begging’, ‘Kib-Tek is the last fortress, our war for survival will not end’, and ‘No to AKSA (the private company that operates the power station in Kalecik (Gastria,Trikomo)’. There were also chants calling for the Minister of Economy and Energy to resign. After the protest, the Kib-Tek and El-Sen officials came together and reached a compromise, which led to the signing of a collective agreement and a protocol between the two sides. The protocol comprised six articles where the Kib-Tek administration pledged to make more investments, reverse price hikes, recruit more employees and collect all unpaid bills.

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